The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Johnson turns up the heat amid MPs’ howls
“Welcome to the circus!” an MP shouted as Jacob Rees-Mogg got to his feet to answer questions on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government.
The multi-millionaire, Eton and Oxford alumnus is every bit the Tory caricature – but so is his new boss in Number 10.
The Brexiteer Bullingdon Club has taken over the Commons, promising not to smash up restaurants but to trash Theresa May’s hated EU exit deal.
SNP MP Pete Wishart said: “I went to bed last night and had this horrible nightmare that the UK Government had been taken over by rabid, right-wing Brexiteers. I’m not particularly sure whether I am awake yet.”
And nor, it seemed, did the front bench, who looked like they were about to pinch themselves awake for much of yesterday’s proceedings. Mr Wishart closed business questions – held in a stifling Commons chamber – by wishing Mr Rees-Mogg a warm and happy recess, adding: “It is hot outside, but as the government continue to open the doors of hell in their buffoons’ Brexit, it is going to get a lot hotter yet.”
And a lot hotter it got with the arrival of Boris Johnson in the chamber.
Tory MPs took noise levels to a decibel not heard since a bomb came through the roof during the Blitz.
Mr Johnson appeared prime ministerial for his 15 minute opener, reiterating pledges and promises, staying on message and not straying into the obscure.
It was merely a warm up; after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticised Mr Johnson’s abilities, the blond-mopped premier came flying back across the despatch box at machine gun speed.
Each rebuke was accompanied by an almighty cheer as Labour MPs complained they couldn’t hear Mr Johnson.
Eventually shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who was the butt of several of Mr Johnson’s jokes, stood, shook his head and left the chamber.
If the outing was anything to go by, prime minister’s questions looks likely to return as an event for your calendar each week.